Changing of guard in Paris

Former players always say that when you have had a taste of a Grand Slam final, you want more.

Albert Costa, Ferrero's semi-final opponent, provided the upset 12 months ago in Ferrero's first major final. This time, the world #3 made no mistake.

The world's best clay court player this season thrashed Martin Verkerk 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in a final devoid of sentiment.

In the same way as women's champion Justine Henin-Hardenne knows only too well the pain of defeat on the major stage - she lost to Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2001. That same year, she succombed to Clijsters in the semis in Paris. Gone were the butterflies of yesteryear on Saturday as it was Clijsters succombing to nerves in the final.

Ferrero and Henin not only beat the pressure of a Grand Slam final, they also figured out the pressure of the boisterous French crowds.

Henin-Hardenne, in particular handled herself well during her semi-final defeat of world number one, Serena, who came apart under the jeers of partisan spectators.

The boos were nowhere near as bad as those that brought Switzerland's Martina Hingis to tears during the 1999 final against Steffi Graf, but they did unravel the usually stoic Serena.

Ferrero gave Verkerk's band of orange no reason to cheer. In the first game, he converted his fifth break point and from that moment on his opponents support became a mere whimper.

Pint-sized Henin may have rightly grabbed the glory, but it was the disappointment of the American challenge that provides an interesting insight into how female professionals have reacted to the explosion of the power game.

And it wasn't just Henin's win over Serena.

For the first time in years, the women's tournament was wide open as seeds fell early.

Russians Nadia Petrova and Vera Zvonareva may also be rightly proud of their achievements the past fortnight. The duo came to prominence in their defeats of Jennifer Capriati and Venus Williams respectively, in the fourth round, in what was to become known as the graveyard of American tennis.

Although another power hitter Lindsay Davenport withdrew injured during her game against Conchita Martinez at the same stage, the losses signalled the promise of a more wide open women's game.

And while early round upsets are commonplace among the men, everyone took notice when Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova fell in the second round to American teenager Ashley Harkleroad.

Roland Garros again confirmed that when it comes to clay, Spanish and South American tennis may be set for a long reign.

It hasn't been a shock to our systems. The red dirt grinders have been threatening for seven years now. Ever since, the then unknown Gustavo Kuerten's first won in 1997, ranked 67 in the world.

This year Argentines Guillermo Coria and Fernando Gonzalez produced displays that could signal, future major wins.

Ferrero now joins fellow countrymen Manolo Santana, Sergei Brugera, Carlos Moya and last year's winner Costa in the pantheon of Paris greats.

Perhaps, the French Open committee should begin to review the naming of the championships. But then Wimbledon would have been renamed decades ago.